Meridian boys clinch share of Jack Pine title

Recommended Video:

FARWELL — Meridian clinched at least a share of the Jack Pine Conference boys’ basketball title on Friday with a 77-38 win over host Farwell.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 8 in Division 3, are 16-1 overall, 12-0 in the JPC. They can clinch the title outright Wednesday with a win at home over Roscommon.

Gabe Brady had 22 points and seven rebounds for the Mustangs, who led 40-24 halftime.

“We got off to a real good start,” Meridian coach Mitch Bohn said. “We were able to get some points in transition (and) we got a lot of offensive rebounds.”

Lucas Lueder had 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals for Meridian, and Brett Barriger had 10 points, 10 assists and four steals.

Up next, the Mustangs will play a nonconference game on Tuesday at Shepherd.

Meridian won Friday’s junior varsity game 58-42, led by Josh Barriger’s 15 points.

Bullock Creek 53, Shepherd 48

SHEPHERD — Ryan Sieffert scored 19 points as Bullock Creek made a big rally in the fourth quarter to pull off a 53-48 road upset over Shepherd on Friday in Tri-Valley Conference Central boys’ basketball.

Creek center Scott Spica scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth, going 6 of 8 from the line.

The Lancers outscored the Bluejays 20-6 in the fourth to erase a 42-33 deficit and earn their first conference victory.

Creek is 1-7 in the TVCC, 2-13 overall.

“This was a great team win,” Lancers’ coach Doug Bradford said, noting that Shepherd has a winning record. “We really haven’t been that far away all season (from winning some of the close games). I was really proud of the kids for being able to get this win.”

Steven Lenon added 11 points for Bullock Creek.

The Lancers will host Essexville Garber on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in a makeup game.

CC-Crystal 39, Coleman 35

CARSON CITY — Coleman gave first-place Carson City-Crystal all it could handle on Friday, but the host Eagles managed to eke out a 39-35 victory in a Mid-State Activities Conference boys’ basketball dogfight.

“I’m so proud of my guys tonight. That was the best game we’ve played all season,” said Coleman coach Clark Swerdan. “We didn’t get the win, but we hung tough on the road against the best team in the conference.

“ ... We easily had our best defensive effort of the season,” added Swerdan, noting that CCC is now 11-0 in the conference and has at least a three-game lead on everyone else. “We were physical inside and got a lot of tough rebounds. We kept it close and gave ourselves a chance late in the game.”

The Comets led 9-5 after one quarter before the Eagles rallied to take a 19-16 lead into halftime. Coleman cut the deficit to 28-27 after three quarters, and CCC had an 11-8 edge in the fourth to end it.

Connor Arnold led the Comets with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Kam DeVrieze had nine points and four rebounds, Logan Schocknesse scored seven points, and Tyler Germain added seven rebounds and three assists.

“The boys played with great intensity, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Swerdan. “We had our chances, and that’s all you can ask for against a great team.”

Coleman (8-8 overall, 5-6 MSAC) will host Montabella in a 1 p.m. makeup game on Saturday, then will head to Ashley for a Monday makeup game. The Comets will follow that with a road game at Farwell on Tuesday for their fourth game in five days.

Carson City-Crystal also won the junior varsity game, 50-33. Konnor Carbeno led Coleman with five points.

Trent Reed led the way with 14 points, while Jarrett Inscho and Logan Gerow each added 10.

“We played pretty good tonight,” said Beaverton coach Roy Johnston. “We played tough defense and worked the ball around on offense. The boys worked real hard.”

The Beavers led 13-8 after one quarter and 28-14 at halftime before outscoring the Bucks 22-12 in the second half.

Beaverton (13-3 overall, 10-2 JPC) will head to Hemlock on Tuesday.

Clare 71, Gladwin 30

CLARE — Clare dominated the second and fourth quarters Friday on the way to a 71-30 win over visiting Gladwin in Jack Pine Conference girls’ basketball.

The Pioneers led only 11-10 after one quarter but outscored the Flying G’s 18-3 in the second quarter to extend to a 29-13 halftime lead. Clare outscored Gladwin 17-10 in the third and 25-7 in the fourth.

“They made their adjustments after the first quarter and just shut us down (for the rest of the game),” said Gladwin coach Josh Pahl. “Offensively, we just couldn’t get things going.”

Antonio Williams led the G’s with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Wilson Bragg added six points.

Gladwin (1-14 overall, 1-12 JPC) will have a pair of road makeup games next week — at Houghton Lake on Monday and at Farwell on Wednesday — before hosting Beaverton next Friday.

Clare also won the JV game, 59-22. Josh McKenna led the G’s with nine points.

Roch. Hills Christ. 74, CBA 48

ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Hills Christian jumped out to a big early lead and never let up against Calvary Baptist Academy, cruising to a 74-48 win in boys’ basketball Friday.

“They hurt us a lot in transition and made seven 3’s, while we made one 3(-pointer),” said CBA coach John VanHolstyn, whose Kings slip to 7-8. “ ... Their transition was very good, and our defense was poor tonight. We usually play solid defense, but we didn’t play good defense tonight.”

The Eagles led 19-6 after one quarter, outscored CBA 20-12 in the second to go up 39-18 at halftime, and had a 17-9 advantage in the third to extend to a 56-27 lead. The Kings scored 21 points in the fourth, but, as VanHolstyn noted, “it was too little, too late.”

“Twenty-one points in the fourth quarter is outstanding. The spirit was there, but we just didn’t get enough (offense) early in the game,” he said, adding that top scorer Mark Dickerson was saddled with foul trouble throughout the game. “ ... We were missing Mark’s leadership and scoring.”

Adam Chrysler led Calvary with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Dickerson had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Nate Wiggins added six points.